Today I will be reviewing Undesirable book 1 of the Seven Years Gone series by Liz Iavorschi-Braun. I came across Undesirable in one of my Facebook groups. The cover immediately intrigued me, and I found myself on Goodreads learning more about the book.
Undesirable
Author: Liz Iavorschi-Braun
Series: Seven Years Gone #1
Genre: YA Dystopian
Publication Date: February 15, 2017
My Rating: 4 pens!
Goodreads Synopsis: Five generations after world leaders engineer a virus to decimate the population and keep it under control, life continues as normal for those living in The Society. They are divided into classes and go about their lives because it is all they know. The genetically fortunate become rulers, while those labeled undesirable are never seen again.
Torn between her obligation to The Society in which she was raised and a desire to choose her own fate, Ginger takes a chance and risks it all to cross a vast wilderness alone for a chance to be free.
Topics and Triggers: Government Control, Fate, Wilderness Survival
Purchase Amazon US | Amazon UK | B&N | Book Depository
I was provided a copy of Undesirable from Liz Iavorschi-Braun in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Undesirable starts with a letter from Ginger seven years after she leaves The Society. However, the story follows her journey out of The Society to freedom. It starts when Ginger is about to turn 16. This is when The Society runs a selection test to see who will go on in the community and who is undesirable. Afraid of what the results may show, Ginger decides to leave her home behind in an attempt to find freedom. She faces many obstacles, but as the letter at the beginning suggests, she escapes.
On the dedication page, I found that the author wrote this book during NaNoWriMo! For those of you that are new here, I love NaNoWriMo! I have participated in the past and plan on continuing to participate in the future. So this just made me a lot a bit excited! Though this did not influence my rating in any way.
Now onto the review!
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Ginger’s Voice
I’ll be honest here, I hated Ginger at the beginning of the book. Her voice is stiff and unemotional. However, she grew on me. Her voice shifts almost immediately after she leaves The Society, which I take as her releasing her true self to the reader. I can’t help but want to know more about her journey.
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Journal Entries
Frequently throughout the book, Ginger wrote journal entries summarizing her day. Although sometimes repetitive to what was already read, many times it provides a better insight into Ginger’s feelings. I think the journal entries help clear up some of the few confusions that happen during the scenes.
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Plot Twist
Well, I did not see that coming! So from the beginning letter, we know that Ginger escapes. And she does by the end of this book. The revelations after she escapes are completely unexpected and a welcome surprise.
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Knowledge of Survival
Ginger has been sheltered all of her life. There is no way she knows that much about survival. But she shows the great knowledge she has of survival. Although convenient to the plot, I am unsure just how she really learned all of this information.
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Chapter 10
This chapter just didn’t need to be here. The whole book is written in the first person POV. This chapter is the exception. It is written in the third person. Being that it doesn’t affect Ginger until later on, there is no reason to have a random third person POV chapter amongst all of the other chapters.
Undesirable is a great dystopian read. I had such a hard time putting this book down, that I would keep telling myself one more chapter, and after about five I would finally put it down. I really enjoyed the characters and the writing style that the author uses. I’m excited to share my thoughts on the next book! (The Undefinable post will be out on Saturday!)
Purchase Undesirable today on: Amazon US | Amazon UK | B&N | Book Depository
Thank you Liz Iavorschi-Braun for providing me a copy of your book in return for my honest opinion!
What would you do if a test decided your fate? Let me know in the comments below!
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To see my review of the other books in The Seven Years Gone Series:
(2) Undefinable
(3) Undeniable
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This sounds like it may be up my alley- I’m always in an inbetween of wanting to start a new series and having too many started. We’ll have to buddy up for NaNo! I’m MLing this year 🙂
They are quick reads and worth it! That would be awesome! I’ve never had a NaNo buddy before!
I am doing book 4 in the series for NANO this year if you want a buddy 😉
That would be wonderful! 😄
You are luring me to the dystopian genre 😉
Come to the dark side! 😈
It would have been great if they at least talked about how she READ while she was sheltered. Then, at least, she’d have practical survival knowledge.
I agree! It mentions that she likes to read but I don’t remember it saying anything about reading about surviving.
do you remember the book on Survival she found in the mountain equipment store in the first abandoned town……
Yes. It just felt like she was a very quick learner for getting that book after she had started her journey.
In a way test did decide my Fate… like standardized test I had to take when I was in public school. And then the college entrance exams. The PSAT and things like that…
You make a good point! But at least those tests didnt determine life or death.
I love hearing about NaNo success stories.
I keep seeing this book all over the groups too. It’s calling to me.
“Her voice is stiff and unemotional. However, she grew on me.” Have you read THE GLITCH by Ramona Finn? This commentary reminded me of that book because I felt the same way.
No I haven’t, but I’ll check it out.